Sesame Street Pilot Episodes

Before Sesame Street began regular production, five test pilots were produced and shown to children. In these pilots, the Muppets were kept separate from the street and human cast. Jim Henson was involved in material shot on July 9-18, 1969.[1]

One recurring series of sketches that appears in these pilots is "The Man from Alphabet." These segments didn't test well, and never appeared on the show as broadcast.

Among the topics taught in the test pilots include the numbers 2 and 3 and the letters D, W, and R.

Audience testing revealed that kids were more interested in the Muppet and animated segments than in the street segments.[2] Because of this, it was decided to have the Muppets appear on the street along with the human cast.